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A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart
The morning hours before the hustle and bustle of the day commences is the perfect time to pause and enjoy a sense of renewal and vitality. On the morning of December 7, 2006, Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes each took a digital photo of everyday objects randomly arranged on their kitchen tables and, unbeknownst to one another, uploaded them to the website Flickr. Noticing a remarkable similarity between their images, they agreed to document their mornings by posting one photo to a shared blog every weekday for a year. Their site, 3191 (http://3191.visualblogging.com) named after the distance in miles between their homes in Portland, Maine, and Portland, Oregon quickly acquired a worldwide following of devotees fascinated by the magical coincidences and pictorial synchronicity of their photographic pairings.
A Year of Mornings collects 236 images, always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women, from this uniquely 21st-century artistic collaboration. The intimacy of these photographs; discarded clothing, a view of a snowy day from the window, a tablecloth combined with their striking similarities in color and composition, defies the reality of their long-distance collaboration. While clearly kindred spirits, the two women have met in person only once. Their friendship is maintained solely online, sustained by a shared love for moments of serenity, solitude, and peacefulness. The annotated photographs in A Year of Mornings radiate an aura of sweetness and light, the promise of a new day.
A Year of Mornings collects 236 images, always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women, from this uniquely 21st-century artistic collaboration. The intimacy of these photographs; discarded clothing, a view of a snowy day from the window, a tablecloth combined with their striking similarities in color and composition, defies the reality of their long-distance collaboration. While clearly kindred spirits, the two women have met in person only once. Their friendship is maintained solely online, sustained by a shared love for moments of serenity, solitude, and peacefulness. The annotated photographs in A Year of Mornings radiate an aura of sweetness and light, the promise of a new day.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2008
2 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
Maria Alexandra Vettese
6 books4 followersMaria Alexandra Vettese is a Portland, Maine-based freelance art director who also works in the mediums of photography and design. She is a creative, collaborative thinker who arrives at her best ideas intuitively when she is completely in the moment or under the gun. She owns and curates the shop More & Co. and lives in a flat that was built in 1891 with her sweetheart, her baby girl and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
December 12, 2009
"A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart" is the printed version of a blog created by two women who took a photograph every morning for a year, and posted their photos together. It's a study in domesticity most of the time - the photos are of cracked hard boiled eggs, toast about to be eaten, a book in bed, and corners and bits of their houses.
I thought I would enjoy this book, as I have a thing for the comforts-of-home photography genre, but whoever designed the print version of this project deserves to be slapped on the wrist for doing such a poor job translating an online project onto paper. The photographs are printed, side-by-side, and vary in size. Some are no more than perhaps an inch and a half across, which very much defeats the purpose of having lush, detail-filled photographs - it's hard to appreciate something when you are squinting at it (sometimes in an effort to figure out what the photograph is even of). Perhaps a third of the photographs are this inexplicable small size - the book designer seemed to be more in love with white space than the photos themselves.
It's a shame, because there are some lovely photos here, and some unique juxtapositions between the two photographs taken each day.
I found myself thinking as I flipped through the book about the whole blog-as-book phenomenon. I think I would have enjoyed the blog version of this book much more than this printed product - there is a sense of community and discussion around these photographs referred to in the introductions, etc, that is missing from the book. Sadly, the blog that "A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart" is based on was taken down when the book was published. It's too bad that they purposefully trashed the community and content that grew up around these photographs in an apparent attempt (misguided, in my opinion) to support the book release.
Two stars.
I thought I would enjoy this book, as I have a thing for the comforts-of-home photography genre, but whoever designed the print version of this project deserves to be slapped on the wrist for doing such a poor job translating an online project onto paper. The photographs are printed, side-by-side, and vary in size. Some are no more than perhaps an inch and a half across, which very much defeats the purpose of having lush, detail-filled photographs - it's hard to appreciate something when you are squinting at it (sometimes in an effort to figure out what the photograph is even of). Perhaps a third of the photographs are this inexplicable small size - the book designer seemed to be more in love with white space than the photos themselves.
It's a shame, because there are some lovely photos here, and some unique juxtapositions between the two photographs taken each day.
I found myself thinking as I flipped through the book about the whole blog-as-book phenomenon. I think I would have enjoyed the blog version of this book much more than this printed product - there is a sense of community and discussion around these photographs referred to in the introductions, etc, that is missing from the book. Sadly, the blog that "A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart" is based on was taken down when the book was published. It's too bad that they purposefully trashed the community and content that grew up around these photographs in an apparent attempt (misguided, in my opinion) to support the book release.
Two stars.
February 16, 2012
This another one of those blog-turned-book deals. Two bloggers living across the country from each other in Portland, OR and Portland, ME decided to do a collaborative project together. Every morning they would each take a photograph without consulting the other, and then present them together as a diptych on their blog. Apparently this took off in the blogging world, although not to Julie and Julia levels, unfortunately for the authors.
I think it's a very nice idea, both in that it fosters connection between the two participants, and it fosters connection between viewer and the participants in the online community. Connection, true and lasting connection of the non-shallow variety is something I think many people hunger for, and this project seemed to succeed in that area. The photographs provide very intimate glimpses of the authors' day-to-day lives, and you get a sense of the person behind the photos when you see a year of their mornings like this. Still, I find it hard to believe that the photographs were taken and posted without consultation between the two bloggers. There are too many convenient themes, color coordinations, or in one case, matching shirts to believe that it was all done by chance. It's hard to believe that the day one of them posted scissors and stems from cut flowers, the other just "happened" to post flowers in a vase.
While the book is interesting to look through, and does make the everyday beautiful, the everyday also becomes mundane again by the end. Probably 80% of the photos contain some kind of breakfast food (75% of that being eggs), another 10% include bedclothes, with the remaining 10% being divided between cats and miscellaneous. It was an ok book, but I think it works better in the online world.
I think it's a very nice idea, both in that it fosters connection between the two participants, and it fosters connection between viewer and the participants in the online community. Connection, true and lasting connection of the non-shallow variety is something I think many people hunger for, and this project seemed to succeed in that area. The photographs provide very intimate glimpses of the authors' day-to-day lives, and you get a sense of the person behind the photos when you see a year of their mornings like this. Still, I find it hard to believe that the photographs were taken and posted without consultation between the two bloggers. There are too many convenient themes, color coordinations, or in one case, matching shirts to believe that it was all done by chance. It's hard to believe that the day one of them posted scissors and stems from cut flowers, the other just "happened" to post flowers in a vase.
While the book is interesting to look through, and does make the everyday beautiful, the everyday also becomes mundane again by the end. Probably 80% of the photos contain some kind of breakfast food (75% of that being eggs), another 10% include bedclothes, with the remaining 10% being divided between cats and miscellaneous. It was an ok book, but I think it works better in the online world.
October 1, 2009
I don't know; this style of photography just really depresses me. To me it just screams of lonely, isolated, anxious women. Which is probably completely unfair, but there you go.
Some of the photos were really lovely ~ I especially liked the unique photos of felines. Oh, but I also thought it was pretty weird that neither of the two authors took any photos of people, unless you count strange occasional anonymous unidentifiable body parts. For me, this bizarre lack of humanity kind of undid the whole project of evoking fuzzy feelings of domestic simplicity and bliss.
And I suppose I have one more rant to get off my chest. I don't think the book translated very well from blog to book format. Most of the photos in the book were very small and context-less, which made them all kind of melt together and disappear. I'm sure if you were actively checking the photos every day as they were published on the blog and interacting through comments, it would be another story altogether -- more intimate and meaningful. It completely sucks that the blog was yoinked after the book deal went through, most likely because the publisher didn't want the blog to compete with book sales. I hate copyright.
Some of the photos were really lovely ~ I especially liked the unique photos of felines. Oh, but I also thought it was pretty weird that neither of the two authors took any photos of people, unless you count strange occasional anonymous unidentifiable body parts. For me, this bizarre lack of humanity kind of undid the whole project of evoking fuzzy feelings of domestic simplicity and bliss.
And I suppose I have one more rant to get off my chest. I don't think the book translated very well from blog to book format. Most of the photos in the book were very small and context-less, which made them all kind of melt together and disappear. I'm sure if you were actively checking the photos every day as they were published on the blog and interacting through comments, it would be another story altogether -- more intimate and meaningful. It completely sucks that the blog was yoinked after the book deal went through, most likely because the publisher didn't want the blog to compete with book sales. I hate copyright.
October 8, 2014
This was a lovely book with its series of serene, quiet photos. Having done a year-long photo diary myself, I found this project immensely appealing, although I have to second my friend Elizabeth when I say I wish there had been a little more variety in subject matter. Of course, I can see how the role of observer would feel different when viewing this as a daily photo blog as opposed to looking at all the photos in a single afternoon.
I have a photographer friend who never prints any photos, she is happy to let them live on her hard drive, but for me, I want a printed copy (whether I actually get around to printing it is another story). It makes a moment feel less fleeting somehow, more concrete, less figment. And here, I loved the graphic layout of the book, but found the small photos to be...well, small. Wish they had made each photo worth a page, which, I suppose, is something to keep in mind in my own photo books.
Still, an inspiring project, and worth the afternoon to page through. I'm interested to take a peek at their other photo project about evenings.
I have a photographer friend who never prints any photos, she is happy to let them live on her hard drive, but for me, I want a printed copy (whether I actually get around to printing it is another story). It makes a moment feel less fleeting somehow, more concrete, less figment. And here, I loved the graphic layout of the book, but found the small photos to be...well, small. Wish they had made each photo worth a page, which, I suppose, is something to keep in mind in my own photo books.
Still, an inspiring project, and worth the afternoon to page through. I'm interested to take a peek at their other photo project about evenings.
February 24, 2009
From a distance, two artists admire one another's work and forge a friendship that takes place through internet correspondence. They begin a photoblog to document their mornings where each takes a daily picture before noon, and then posts it on their blog. The images are reproduced in this book whose title comes from the distance in miles between the two contributors.
There were some elements of synchrony between the pairs of photos that I enjoyed, but the format of the book, having two out of every three shown at magnifying glass size wasn't conducive to viewing them. Many of the sets were mundane, and I felt would have been better to have been left on the original blog from which they'd all been posted.
There were some elements of synchrony between the pairs of photos that I enjoyed, but the format of the book, having two out of every three shown at magnifying glass size wasn't conducive to viewing them. Many of the sets were mundane, and I felt would have been better to have been left on the original blog from which they'd all been posted.
January 7, 2010
The concept of this book is so appealing to me, and the photographs are definitely beautiful; I found myself wishing a few times that they had pushed a little harder for diversity in subject matter, but that's just a personal bias, not their problem. The book is still lovely. I would have been interested in the background behind more of the photos, too. My big complaint is that I wish the book design had included equally-sized diptychs for each day; the small photos made it difficult to achieve the same effect as the larger ones.
But overall, what a wonderful idea. Right up my alley : )
But overall, what a wonderful idea. Right up my alley : )
June 27, 2013
This is a book I have come back to repeatedly. Originally bought it upon its publication in 2008. It is a photo collaboration between two women, one living in Portland, OR and the other in Portland, ME. They spent a year taking photos (each week-day, before noon) and sharing them with each other on a shared blog. Their online friendship documents their love of solitude and peace.
July 28, 2016
Lovely book of photographs depicting everyday life (of two individuals living a lifestyle that is aesthetically superior to myself and most people that I know). I wanted to crawl into the photos and exist in their contemplative and serene spaces. My own book of mornings would probably involve a lot more clutter, spilled cereal, tears, coffee-clutching and general chaos.
May 5, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. The images are fine, the layout is okay though some of the images are about stamp size, over all it just didn't feel necessary to use raw materials to make this book. After all, the images were already on their respective blogs. It was a pleasant enough way to pass 20 minutes, beyond that there isn't much there.
March 26, 2009
Editorial Reviews
3191: A Year Of Mornings , Yahoo Picks!:
"When Stephanie and Mav embarked on their "year of mornings," they'd never worked together before. And they live 3,191 miles apartone in Portland, Oregon; the other in Portland, Maine. Yet, these kindred spirits have bridged their continental divide with a daily project that's become one of the most quietly beautiful photoblogs on the Web." (September 12, 2007)
Martha Stewart Television Show :
"A fascinating book...magical...it's really a beautiful way to celebrate every day." — Martha Stewart (Fall, 2008)
Art~ The Narcotic Of Choice, Beach Bungalow 8 Blog:
"Maria alexandra vettesethe and stephanie congdon barnes began taking photos of things randomly displayed on their kitchen tables {all before noon} and posting them to flickr. complete strangers and living 3191 miles apart, neither woman was aware of the other or that she was doing the same. eventually catching wind of the other's work, they began developing a blog together. the two continued to post their photos, one next to the other. everyday. and the crazy thing is that they've only met, in person, once. really. Incredible story isn't it? The beautiful pairings of their work will appear, this fall in their book "3191, a year of mornings" the book is a compilation of these serene images, taken by two women with a love for early mornings quiet hours and the beauty found in the simplicity of life~ 3191 miles apart." (August 19, 2008)
Kelly Kilmer Blog:
"3191 A Year of Mornings is very, very high on my want list right now. " — Kelly Kilmer (September 3, 2008)
Rhinestone Armadillo Blog:
"Did any of you visit the blog 3191 last year? Two women, Maria Alexandra Vettesse and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, collaborated on an impromptu, year-long photography project. "3191, A Year of Mornings" began on January 1, 2007 as an almost daily photo conversation, in blog form, between two friends that live 3191 miles apart. It lasted the entire calendar year ending on December 31, 2007." (September 3, 2008)
Pink Argyle Blog:
"Each photo makes me want to quit my job, move to Portland or Maine, and drink lots of tea while surrounded by mountains of gorgeously illustrated books. Sigh." — Mo (September 3, 2008)
To Which I Aspire, I Heart Mountains Blog:
"In a roundabout, blog-surfing kind of way today, I came across this: A Year of Mornings, 3191 Miles Apart. The co-authors of this book both photographed their mornings each day for a year and uploaded the photos to Flickr, totally unbeknownst to the other. And then the Princeton Architectural Press picked up the book idea and published it. Lucky (talented) ducks.The work is really lovely." — Annabelle (May 23, 2008)
Maxine Snider Inc. Blog:
"3191, A Year of Mornings began on January 1, 2007 as an almost daily photo conversation, in blog form, between two friends that live 3191 miles apart. It lasted the entire calendar year ending on December 31, 2007.The project is now being transformed into a book which will be out in the Fall, published by Princeton Architectural Press." — Maxine Snider (May 19, 2008)
Daisy May Robin Blog:
"If you're not familiar with 3191, you should be.Everyday for one year, two women who live 3,191 miles apart (one in Portland, Oregon and one in Portland, Maine), posted a photo each morning. Their photos are sensual, yet familiar, and their images always seem to complement one another. Princeton Architectural Press was so intrigued with their online experiment that they're publishing a book of their 365 morning photos, which will be released Fall 2008.Their one year of mornings came to an end a few weeks back. I was elated to discover they just began "one year of evenings."" (january 30, 2008)
Eagerly Awaiting, Perfect Bound Blog:
"3191 references the number of miles that separate the two friends who live in Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. I love that they met online through their blogs and Flickr." (February 01, 2008)
Stuck In A Book Blog:
"I, along with lots of others, kept my fingers crossed for a book. And our hopes have been realised! It shan't be out until Autumn (or 'Fall', as they would have it) and possibly only from the US, but a copy has my name on it from now. " (January 28, 2008)
The Metaphorical Magpie Blog:
"So many of us turned to 3191 in 2007 to see the beautiful images Mav and Stephanie posted of their mornings each day. I knew early on in their project that this would make a wonderful book. Obviously, I was not alone... If you are not familiar with their work, you really should treat yourself to a dip into their archives. I'm not a morning person myself, so I'm always kind of in awe at what these ladies have seen and done long before my sleepy head lifts from the pillow. On January 15, they will begin a new project on 3191 documenting their evenings. Can't wait." (January 11, 2008)
Apartment Therapy Blog:
"Early in 2007, we discovered 3191, a lovely visual blog collaboration between Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese (Mav). It was a treat to see the gorgeous photographs of their mornings -- mornings spent 3191 miles apart, but that always resulted in photos that, somehow, matched. So we're very happy to hear that this fall Princeton Architectural Press will publish the project as a book..." (January 16, 2008)
See Saw Designs Blog:
"3191 are two friends who live 3,191 miles apart. Each morning they both post a picture and the result is beautiful. We've enjoyed the past year being inspired by their photos - and now are looking forward to seeing their work published in book form from Princeton Architectural Press {available in the Fall of 2008.}" (January 9, 2008)
Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Pretty Crafty Thing Blog:
"One of my first favorite blogs is 3191, A Year of Mornings. Two friends and talented photographers, Stephanie and Mav, living 3191 miles from each other have chronicled the past year by daily posting photographs they take every morning. I was totally inspired by their unique way of connecting with each other and the beautiful photos that transpired. A Year of Mornings has ended but I am happy to say that A Year of Evenings will begin on Jan 15. And great news for all - their book of images will be published by Princeton Architectural Press and will be released Fall of 2008. So excited!" (January 7, 2008)
Freshly Blended Blog:
"Also, this coming fall we will be delighted by a very lovely book being published by one of my favorite houses, Princeton Architectural Press. The authors are Maria (Mav) of port to port press and Stephanie Congdon. Living 3191 miles apart they developed a blog last year to share pictures they each took every morning. each day one contrasts the other creating a visual estetic so pleasing to the eye. 3191 a year of mornings will definitely adorn my coffee table next fall!" — Nicole Lecht (January 9, 2008)
3191, Bloesem:
"Last year these talented women made a picture every morning, combined them together and showed them on their blog 3191. (The women live 3191 miles apart)......but 3191 doesn't end here...they will be starting a new project in this space on January 15, 2008 ... 3191, A Year of Evenings..." (January 6, 2008)
Book By Its Cover Blog:
"Every single pairing from that year is in this new book from Princeton Architectural Press. I had gotten a sneak preview of the book from seeing a clip on Martha Stewart that was swirling around blogland- yes even Martha was excited about it. But I did not actually hold the book until now, which I learned has a nice raised texture on the cover of white tiny polka dots that feel really nice to run your hands over. The interior has the photographic pairs sometimes as big as they can be on the page or sometimes scattered around as small as thumbnail images. There are too many image pairings where my mind wonders- how could this have happened? The images sometimes seem so linked that without the other it wouldnt work. There are real coincidences- like a photo of a sleeping cat paired with a photo of some tangled yarn." (October 9, 2008)
The Morning News:
"Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese are the photographers behind A Year of Mornings, a blog-turned-book that documents a years daily exchange of photosone picture taken each morning and swapped by emailbetween two friends. What makes the pictures remarkable is that Barnes and Vettese seem of one mind, or at least one art director. Though the original Year of Mornings blog is now offline, you can catch Barnes and Vettese in their new form: a year of evenings. " — Rosecrans Baldwin (October 6, 2008)
Capturing Distant Mornings, Vancouver Sun :
"They both love the early morning, for the promise and possibility they see in it and for its soft light, they revel in being at home and find grace in the small details and quiet rhythms of domestic life spooning yogurt into a bowl, say, instead of eating it straight from the container." — Susan Schwartz (December 29, 2008)
The Ties That Bind, The New York Times:
"That each woman paused to record the curve of a daughters ear, a bowl of cereal or a shadow cast across the floor before sitting down in front of a computer is an act that carries with it the most clichd, yet essential, of all messages: stop and smell the roses (and the coffee, the toast, the morning air).Were living in difficult times, and it seems its exactly these tiny details and fleeting moments that can offer us the most solace and even joy. Just as I hold Noisy Nora dear, so, too, I believe, will the children of Mav and Stephanie be grateful for A Year of Mornings. Its transformation from blog to book helps to insure its preservation through the inevitable, endless iterations of technological innovations to come." — Allison Arieff (October 18, 2008)
Portland Phoenix:
"Their loving photographs of pre-10 am life on opposite coasts (Vettese is based here, and Barnes lives in the other Portland) are beautiful and soft. The book is the result of a blog collaboration, and its a study in color, composition, and the casual calm of morning. No matter whos in charge, we all could use a bit of that." (November 5, 2008)
Muse Warms The Heart – Mind, Victoria Everman Blog:
"In just the first few pages, I fell in love with photography and mornings all over again. During my high school days, you couldnt get me out of bed before 9 or 10am (thanks to having first period open, ha). In the past 4 years, Ive trained myself to be a morning person, mostly because my fiance is anything but. It is so easy to rush through our morning routines without taking the time to acknowledge and embrace the beauty each new day offers. For me, that is what this book is all about. Click HERE to read the full posting on Victoria Evermans blog. " — Victoria Everman (February 25, 2009)
3191: A Year Of Mornings , Yahoo Picks!:
"When Stephanie and Mav embarked on their "year of mornings," they'd never worked together before. And they live 3,191 miles apartone in Portland, Oregon; the other in Portland, Maine. Yet, these kindred spirits have bridged their continental divide with a daily project that's become one of the most quietly beautiful photoblogs on the Web." (September 12, 2007)
Martha Stewart Television Show :
"A fascinating book...magical...it's really a beautiful way to celebrate every day." — Martha Stewart (Fall, 2008)
Art~ The Narcotic Of Choice, Beach Bungalow 8 Blog:
"Maria alexandra vettesethe and stephanie congdon barnes began taking photos of things randomly displayed on their kitchen tables {all before noon} and posting them to flickr. complete strangers and living 3191 miles apart, neither woman was aware of the other or that she was doing the same. eventually catching wind of the other's work, they began developing a blog together. the two continued to post their photos, one next to the other. everyday. and the crazy thing is that they've only met, in person, once. really. Incredible story isn't it? The beautiful pairings of their work will appear, this fall in their book "3191, a year of mornings" the book is a compilation of these serene images, taken by two women with a love for early mornings quiet hours and the beauty found in the simplicity of life~ 3191 miles apart." (August 19, 2008)
Kelly Kilmer Blog:
"3191 A Year of Mornings is very, very high on my want list right now. " — Kelly Kilmer (September 3, 2008)
Rhinestone Armadillo Blog:
"Did any of you visit the blog 3191 last year? Two women, Maria Alexandra Vettesse and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, collaborated on an impromptu, year-long photography project. "3191, A Year of Mornings" began on January 1, 2007 as an almost daily photo conversation, in blog form, between two friends that live 3191 miles apart. It lasted the entire calendar year ending on December 31, 2007." (September 3, 2008)
Pink Argyle Blog:
"Each photo makes me want to quit my job, move to Portland or Maine, and drink lots of tea while surrounded by mountains of gorgeously illustrated books. Sigh." — Mo (September 3, 2008)
To Which I Aspire, I Heart Mountains Blog:
"In a roundabout, blog-surfing kind of way today, I came across this: A Year of Mornings, 3191 Miles Apart. The co-authors of this book both photographed their mornings each day for a year and uploaded the photos to Flickr, totally unbeknownst to the other. And then the Princeton Architectural Press picked up the book idea and published it. Lucky (talented) ducks.The work is really lovely." — Annabelle (May 23, 2008)
Maxine Snider Inc. Blog:
"3191, A Year of Mornings began on January 1, 2007 as an almost daily photo conversation, in blog form, between two friends that live 3191 miles apart. It lasted the entire calendar year ending on December 31, 2007.The project is now being transformed into a book which will be out in the Fall, published by Princeton Architectural Press." — Maxine Snider (May 19, 2008)
Daisy May Robin Blog:
"If you're not familiar with 3191, you should be.Everyday for one year, two women who live 3,191 miles apart (one in Portland, Oregon and one in Portland, Maine), posted a photo each morning. Their photos are sensual, yet familiar, and their images always seem to complement one another. Princeton Architectural Press was so intrigued with their online experiment that they're publishing a book of their 365 morning photos, which will be released Fall 2008.Their one year of mornings came to an end a few weeks back. I was elated to discover they just began "one year of evenings."" (january 30, 2008)
Eagerly Awaiting, Perfect Bound Blog:
"3191 references the number of miles that separate the two friends who live in Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. I love that they met online through their blogs and Flickr." (February 01, 2008)
Stuck In A Book Blog:
"I, along with lots of others, kept my fingers crossed for a book. And our hopes have been realised! It shan't be out until Autumn (or 'Fall', as they would have it) and possibly only from the US, but a copy has my name on it from now. " (January 28, 2008)
The Metaphorical Magpie Blog:
"So many of us turned to 3191 in 2007 to see the beautiful images Mav and Stephanie posted of their mornings each day. I knew early on in their project that this would make a wonderful book. Obviously, I was not alone... If you are not familiar with their work, you really should treat yourself to a dip into their archives. I'm not a morning person myself, so I'm always kind of in awe at what these ladies have seen and done long before my sleepy head lifts from the pillow. On January 15, they will begin a new project on 3191 documenting their evenings. Can't wait." (January 11, 2008)
Apartment Therapy Blog:
"Early in 2007, we discovered 3191, a lovely visual blog collaboration between Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese (Mav). It was a treat to see the gorgeous photographs of their mornings -- mornings spent 3191 miles apart, but that always resulted in photos that, somehow, matched. So we're very happy to hear that this fall Princeton Architectural Press will publish the project as a book..." (January 16, 2008)
See Saw Designs Blog:
"3191 are two friends who live 3,191 miles apart. Each morning they both post a picture and the result is beautiful. We've enjoyed the past year being inspired by their photos - and now are looking forward to seeing their work published in book form from Princeton Architectural Press {available in the Fall of 2008.}" (January 9, 2008)
Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Pretty Crafty Thing Blog:
"One of my first favorite blogs is 3191, A Year of Mornings. Two friends and talented photographers, Stephanie and Mav, living 3191 miles from each other have chronicled the past year by daily posting photographs they take every morning. I was totally inspired by their unique way of connecting with each other and the beautiful photos that transpired. A Year of Mornings has ended but I am happy to say that A Year of Evenings will begin on Jan 15. And great news for all - their book of images will be published by Princeton Architectural Press and will be released Fall of 2008. So excited!" (January 7, 2008)
Freshly Blended Blog:
"Also, this coming fall we will be delighted by a very lovely book being published by one of my favorite houses, Princeton Architectural Press. The authors are Maria (Mav) of port to port press and Stephanie Congdon. Living 3191 miles apart they developed a blog last year to share pictures they each took every morning. each day one contrasts the other creating a visual estetic so pleasing to the eye. 3191 a year of mornings will definitely adorn my coffee table next fall!" — Nicole Lecht (January 9, 2008)
3191, Bloesem:
"Last year these talented women made a picture every morning, combined them together and showed them on their blog 3191. (The women live 3191 miles apart)......but 3191 doesn't end here...they will be starting a new project in this space on January 15, 2008 ... 3191, A Year of Evenings..." (January 6, 2008)
Book By Its Cover Blog:
"Every single pairing from that year is in this new book from Princeton Architectural Press. I had gotten a sneak preview of the book from seeing a clip on Martha Stewart that was swirling around blogland- yes even Martha was excited about it. But I did not actually hold the book until now, which I learned has a nice raised texture on the cover of white tiny polka dots that feel really nice to run your hands over. The interior has the photographic pairs sometimes as big as they can be on the page or sometimes scattered around as small as thumbnail images. There are too many image pairings where my mind wonders- how could this have happened? The images sometimes seem so linked that without the other it wouldnt work. There are real coincidences- like a photo of a sleeping cat paired with a photo of some tangled yarn." (October 9, 2008)
The Morning News:
"Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese are the photographers behind A Year of Mornings, a blog-turned-book that documents a years daily exchange of photosone picture taken each morning and swapped by emailbetween two friends. What makes the pictures remarkable is that Barnes and Vettese seem of one mind, or at least one art director. Though the original Year of Mornings blog is now offline, you can catch Barnes and Vettese in their new form: a year of evenings. " — Rosecrans Baldwin (October 6, 2008)
Capturing Distant Mornings, Vancouver Sun :
"They both love the early morning, for the promise and possibility they see in it and for its soft light, they revel in being at home and find grace in the small details and quiet rhythms of domestic life spooning yogurt into a bowl, say, instead of eating it straight from the container." — Susan Schwartz (December 29, 2008)
The Ties That Bind, The New York Times:
"That each woman paused to record the curve of a daughters ear, a bowl of cereal or a shadow cast across the floor before sitting down in front of a computer is an act that carries with it the most clichd, yet essential, of all messages: stop and smell the roses (and the coffee, the toast, the morning air).Were living in difficult times, and it seems its exactly these tiny details and fleeting moments that can offer us the most solace and even joy. Just as I hold Noisy Nora dear, so, too, I believe, will the children of Mav and Stephanie be grateful for A Year of Mornings. Its transformation from blog to book helps to insure its preservation through the inevitable, endless iterations of technological innovations to come." — Allison Arieff (October 18, 2008)
Portland Phoenix:
"Their loving photographs of pre-10 am life on opposite coasts (Vettese is based here, and Barnes lives in the other Portland) are beautiful and soft. The book is the result of a blog collaboration, and its a study in color, composition, and the casual calm of morning. No matter whos in charge, we all could use a bit of that." (November 5, 2008)
Muse Warms The Heart – Mind, Victoria Everman Blog:
"In just the first few pages, I fell in love with photography and mornings all over again. During my high school days, you couldnt get me out of bed before 9 or 10am (thanks to having first period open, ha). In the past 4 years, Ive trained myself to be a morning person, mostly because my fiance is anything but. It is so easy to rush through our morning routines without taking the time to acknowledge and embrace the beauty each new day offers. For me, that is what this book is all about. Click HERE to read the full posting on Victoria Evermans blog. " — Victoria Everman (February 25, 2009)
December 6, 2009
If you have ever had a friend that was far away, this book is talking to you. Two friends are 3,191 miles apart, each in a Portland (one Maine, one Oregon), and sharing (publicly) one photo each every morning for a year. This book is the organized collection of those pairs of photos. The rules are simple: before noon, no collaborating. In these random snippets of disparate mornings, there are secrets about how a day moves, and over the course of the year you watch the seasons change and lives shift. And there are mornings that make you catch your breath - a black and white striped tee shirt mirrored across the divide, a particular shade of green, gray, blue, yellow appearing in Maine and Oregon on the same day. One day seems suited for fresh produce; another, for shoe gazing and another for sea shells and sand.
When I have a friend far away, I find that we can talk through long conversations, phone calls or quick emails, post cards, hand written letters, or smoke signals, or telepathic messages and we always miss something. Usually you talk about the big things - the house, the work, the family, and if you are close, you talk about the feelings, like big open hopeless loneliness and failure, or an embarrassing level of self-contentment and smug daily gratitude. But you skip the things that make you love your friends -- the way they cook an egg, or how they drink coffee, or the stupid things the cat does, or the stripes in their tee shirt or the particular way they slice an apple or braid their daughter's hair. Is there anything to make you feel more like a stranger than to suddenly realize your latte-sipping friend drinks drip coffee black now?? And they never told you? So, in that heart-aching way I think about all the friends I miss, the people I have spread across the country like a diasporic art installation as I follow my heart and horizons, I liked this book. The photos could have been bigger, or printed on glossy paper, and the whole book could have tolerated a little more critique on the connectedness of the human condition, but c'est la vie. It is adequate and warms the cold coals of my heart.
When I have a friend far away, I find that we can talk through long conversations, phone calls or quick emails, post cards, hand written letters, or smoke signals, or telepathic messages and we always miss something. Usually you talk about the big things - the house, the work, the family, and if you are close, you talk about the feelings, like big open hopeless loneliness and failure, or an embarrassing level of self-contentment and smug daily gratitude. But you skip the things that make you love your friends -- the way they cook an egg, or how they drink coffee, or the stupid things the cat does, or the stripes in their tee shirt or the particular way they slice an apple or braid their daughter's hair. Is there anything to make you feel more like a stranger than to suddenly realize your latte-sipping friend drinks drip coffee black now?? And they never told you? So, in that heart-aching way I think about all the friends I miss, the people I have spread across the country like a diasporic art installation as I follow my heart and horizons, I liked this book. The photos could have been bigger, or printed on glossy paper, and the whole book could have tolerated a little more critique on the connectedness of the human condition, but c'est la vie. It is adequate and warms the cold coals of my heart.
November 2, 2009
My good friend is a great source of new books. When I arrived at her house today I was confronted with a stack of books to look at, review, read and peruse. A Year of Mornings was among them.
This book is the culmination of a year long joint blog project in which the authors posted a morning picture each day. I liked the idea of this book. It was mostly pictures and could be a source of inspiration. I can imagine putting a piece of tracing paper over one of the photos and tracing an outline of the shapes to get me started on a quilt.
The photos have a certain color and 'Shabby Chic' aesthetic, which I think demonstrates the authors' style as well as their surroundings.
One thing about this book is that it is a celebration of the every day. There are rumpled beds, half eaten bowls of oatmeal, braids and small children reading Calvin and Hobbes at the breakfast table. I like that about this book, because I, sometimes, think that we look for the special and extraordinary outside of our lives and try to draw it in without looking at the specialness of the every day IN our lives.
This book is the culmination of a year long joint blog project in which the authors posted a morning picture each day. I liked the idea of this book. It was mostly pictures and could be a source of inspiration. I can imagine putting a piece of tracing paper over one of the photos and tracing an outline of the shapes to get me started on a quilt.
The photos have a certain color and 'Shabby Chic' aesthetic, which I think demonstrates the authors' style as well as their surroundings.
One thing about this book is that it is a celebration of the every day. There are rumpled beds, half eaten bowls of oatmeal, braids and small children reading Calvin and Hobbes at the breakfast table. I like that about this book, because I, sometimes, think that we look for the special and extraordinary outside of our lives and try to draw it in without looking at the specialness of the every day IN our lives.
December 12, 2014
Book blurb: A Year of Mornings collects 236 images, always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women, from this uniquely 21st-century artistic collaboration.
I love the idea of this project. Two bloggers, one living in Portland, Maine, and the other in Portland, Oregon capture daily morning photos, pair them up, and post a diptych on their blog. It is a wonderful reminder to slow down and notice what we see in our ordinary daily routines.
This is another blog to book venture, and while many of the photos are lovely, this probably worked better in blog format as opposed to this book. Most of the diptychs in the book are too small to really work in print, and I found myself squinting a lot while looking at the tiny photos.
I love the idea of this project. Two bloggers, one living in Portland, Maine, and the other in Portland, Oregon capture daily morning photos, pair them up, and post a diptych on their blog. It is a wonderful reminder to slow down and notice what we see in our ordinary daily routines.
This is another blog to book venture, and while many of the photos are lovely, this probably worked better in blog format as opposed to this book. Most of the diptychs in the book are too small to really work in print, and I found myself squinting a lot while looking at the tiny photos.
July 19, 2019
A collection of photos from a blog shared by two women living 3,191 miles apart from each other. They each posted one photo every day, taken before noon. The concept itself is inspiring, and I thought led to a lot of potential. The pictures were a bit sad. All were just common objects found around the house. Really no artistic merit to me, nothing that made me pause and appreciate life in new ways (as I look for photography to do). The pictures in print were far too small for my taste; some pages crammed 6 tiny photos on a page, with too much white space. They might have been more enjoyable in the online blog format, but sadly the blog was taken down in 2008 when the book was published. Overall, I give 3 stars to the concept, and for the pictures of cats.
October 16, 2008
A pretty book, and maybe one that I would sit around contemplating if only I had nothing else to do. I can imagine nice, quiet Tuesday mornings with tea and birds chirping and nowhere to be, flipping through pages and pondering the moments captured on each. Unfortunately, that's not entirely what my life is like, so I got through this pretty quickly. I think I liked the idea better on the blog - a small dose every day, one moment at a time, to have a moment of thoughtfulness at some point during the day.
I guess that's why I still follow the blog and will be returning this book to the library.
I guess that's why I still follow the blog and will be returning this book to the library.
September 24, 2010
Honestly, I think this was probably an awesome blog, but it doesn't translate well into book format. At least, not into this format. Most of the photos are so small that I found myself squinting to try to tell what they were, which does not lend itself to appreciating lovely photography.
Also, checking the blog every morning to see what they two women posted would be kind of fun. Seeing all the mornings at once in a book, with multiples on each page, makes it hard to focus on one morning at a time.
Also, checking the blog every morning to see what they two women posted would be kind of fun. Seeing all the mornings at once in a book, with multiples on each page, makes it hard to focus on one morning at a time.
November 16, 2012
Such a beautiful book I wished all the photos were full size so I could see more detail in every piece. Fabulous idea and how amazing the images. Have now discovered the blog and am enjoying that too. Would love to be part of something like this.
July 21, 2017
I'm not sure if you can truly count this as a book to read, but you can drink in the beauty, the quiet, the stillness of a morning & find inspiration in the beauty of these morning captures. They will cause your imagination to awaken & lead you in whatever direction you choose. ❤️
February 21, 2013
Gorgeous book, a favorite to pull out and look at when I am lacking inspiration.
April 14, 2013
Wonderfully inspiring book....makes a beautiful gift!
June 5, 2023
I took two hours to myself to begin my day this morning: an hour and a smidge to read the essays that open the first eight or ten pages of the book and then to peruse all of the photos slowly. Many pages I enjoyed so much that I paged back to look at them again, more closely. This book is set up in diptychs (pairs of two side-by-side photos, one by Maria--known as MAV online, and one by Stephanie). Then, I spent almost an hour taking photos.
By the time I'd reached halfway through the book, I was already awash in ideas and ready to make my own photos, which is one of the best results of reading such a gorgeous, inspiring book. The light within these photos and the composition of everyday extraordinary objects are consistently moving.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves the morning hours, anyone who loves art projects between friends, anyone who loves photography, and anyone who enjoys still-life compositions. It's a quietly evocative book that I'm sure I'll savor again sometime.
By the time I'd reached halfway through the book, I was already awash in ideas and ready to make my own photos, which is one of the best results of reading such a gorgeous, inspiring book. The light within these photos and the composition of everyday extraordinary objects are consistently moving.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves the morning hours, anyone who loves art projects between friends, anyone who loves photography, and anyone who enjoys still-life compositions. It's a quietly evocative book that I'm sure I'll savor again sometime.
May 5, 2019
I love the concept. I just didn't love the execution. Some of the pictures were what I expected.. insight into a life. And some were just... pictures. Technically, to the takers, I'm sure all of the pictures were insights into their lives, but I felt like I wanted more from a book entitled "A Year of Mornings," where two photographers took pictures in their mornings and shared them with one another from 3,191 miles away. I expected to be moved more. Get a sense of something. And I didn't always love the composition -- either the composition of the actual photographs or the way they were displayed on the pages. Overall, THREE of five stars.
December 11, 2019
What a great project. What a great friendship. What a terrific book. I love it. SO glad I finally purchased it.
January 13, 2020
Beautiful compilation of simple photographs.
March 26, 2021
The photographs where really nice as well as the layout. I loved how this book shows that everyday life can be beautiful, you just got to open your eyes to what's around you.
July 21, 2023
Lovely, inspiring pictures, but they’re too damn small. The print design is very bad.
October 23, 2025
I loved the project, but the photos are very small and pack a lot less punch in this print version.
February 13, 2017
Beautiful pictures in this first collaboration! Fun to be let into their private moments.
April 25, 2022
An inspiring look into 2 perspectives. It makes me feel calm, cozy & seen. Wonderful to glance at to quieten the mind and reset. Beautiful!
March 31, 2009
The morning hours before the hustle and bustle of the day commences is the perfect time to pause and enjoy a sense of renewal and vitality. On the morning of December 7, 2006, Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes each took a digital photo of everyday objects randomly arranged on their kitchen tables and, unbeknownst to one another, uploaded them to the website Flickr. Noticing a remarkable similarity between their images, they agreed to document their mornings by posting one photo to a shared blog every weekday for a year. Their site, 3191 (http://3191.visualblogging.com)—named after the distance in miles between their homes in Portland, Maine, and Portland, Oregon—quickly acquired a worldwide following of devotees fascinated by the magical coincidences and pictorial synchronicity of their photographic pairings.
A Year of Mornings collects 236 images—always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women—from this uniquely 21st century artistic collaboration. The intimacy of these photographs—discarded clothing, a view of a snowy day from the window, a tablecloth—combined with their striking similarities in color and composition defies the reality of their long-distance collaboration. While clearly kindred spirits, the two women have met in person only once. Their friendship is maintained solely online, sustained by a shared love for moments of serenity, solitude, and peacefulness. The annotated photographs in A Year of Mornings radiate an aura of sweetness and light—the promise of a new day.
Stephanie Congdon Barnes is an artist and toymaker (Little Birds Handmade) in Portland, Oregon.
Maria Alexandra Vettese is an artist who uses her letterpress, her camera, and a frequent indulgence in daydreaming to sort out her creative ideas. Along with running her little business, port2port press, she co-curates Lines – Shapes, a small book collective. She works out of an inspiration-lined, light-filled studio and resides with her two cats in Portland, Maine.
A Year of Mornings collects 236 images—always taken before 10 am without discussion between the two women—from this uniquely 21st century artistic collaboration. The intimacy of these photographs—discarded clothing, a view of a snowy day from the window, a tablecloth—combined with their striking similarities in color and composition defies the reality of their long-distance collaboration. While clearly kindred spirits, the two women have met in person only once. Their friendship is maintained solely online, sustained by a shared love for moments of serenity, solitude, and peacefulness. The annotated photographs in A Year of Mornings radiate an aura of sweetness and light—the promise of a new day.
Stephanie Congdon Barnes is an artist and toymaker (Little Birds Handmade) in Portland, Oregon.
Maria Alexandra Vettese is an artist who uses her letterpress, her camera, and a frequent indulgence in daydreaming to sort out her creative ideas. Along with running her little business, port2port press, she co-curates Lines – Shapes, a small book collective. She works out of an inspiration-lined, light-filled studio and resides with her two cats in Portland, Maine.
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